Method of over-seeding using American ryegrass, a new turfgrass

ABSTRACT

A method of over-seeding dormant warm season grasses, including over-seeding the warm season grass with Turf Type  Festulolium  (American Ryegrass) such that the American Ryegrass will provide a green cover during the winter months but will die out when the temperatures increase to the point which allow the warm-season grass to regrow. A method maintain green coverage of turf year-round including planting a warm season grass, and over-seeding the warm season grass with American Ryegrass. The method where the American Ryegrass is selected from the group consisting of breeder&#39;s codes: APMT001, APMT002, APMT003, APMT004, APMT005, APMT006, APMT007, APMT008, APMT009, APMT010, and APMT011.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/570,988, filed Oct. 9, 2017 and entitled “A METHOD OF OVER-SEEDING USING AMERICAN RYEGRASS, A NEW TURFGRASS,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a new turfgrass denominated American turfgrass and, more specifically, to a method of using American turfgrass for overseeding.

This American ryegrass [x Festulolium braunii (K. Richt.) A. Camus] invention relates to cultivated varieties of true breeding, stable, tetraploid hybrid between Festuca pratensis Huds. x Lolium perenne L., for the novel use as 1) a short lived, improved turfgrass on golf courses, athletic fields, lawns, and other areas using seeded turfgrasses; 2) overseeding of dormant warm season grasses since its lack of heat tolerance (in southern US) allows for a smooth transition for the warm-season grass; and 3) provide a permanent turf more with cold tolerance, with good winter color, and better drought tolerance than perennial ryegrass.

2. Background of the Art

Festulolium is the name for intergeneric/interspecific hybrid grasses developed by crossing species of Festuca and Lolium. This enables combining the best properties of the two types of grass. Table 1 shows the resulting Festulolium hybrids, their complex, diverse, taxonomy, and nomenclature (Banfi et al, 2017; Ghesquiere et al., 2010; Hopkins et al., 2009). Here forward the forage hybrids are referred to as only Festulolium. The novel turf type Festulolium invention will be referred to as American Ryegrass or turf type Festulolium.

TABLE 1 Current Classification based Traditional Classification on Banfi et al. (2017) Parent Parent Scientific Name Scientific Name Festuca Festuca Festuca ×czarnohorensis Zapał. Lolium ×czarnohorense apennina gigantea (Zapał.) Banfi, Galasso, Foggi, (Lolium (Lolium Kopecký & Ardenghi apenninum) gignanteum) Festuca Festuca Festuca ×aschersoniana Dörfl. Lolium ×aschersonianum arundinacea pratensis (Dörfl.) Banfi, Galasso, Foggi, (Lolium (Lolium Kopecký & Ardenghi rundinaceum) pratense) Festuca Festuca Festuca ×fleischeri Lolium ×fleischeri (Rohlena) arundinacea gigantea Banfi, Galasso, Foggi, (Lolium (Lolium Kopecký rundinaceum) gignanteum) & Ardenghi Festuca Lolium ×Festulolium holmbergii (Dörfl.) Lolium holmbergii (Dörfl.) arundinacea perenne P. Fourn. Banfi, Galasso, Foggi, (Lolium Kopecký & Ardenghi rundinaceum) Festuca Lolium ×Schedolium krasanii H. Scholz Lolium ×krasanii (H. Scholz), arundinacea multiflorum Banfi, Galasso, Foggi, (Lolium Lam. Kopecký & Ardenghi ^(a) rundinaceum) Festuca Lolium ×Festulolium brinkmannii (A. Lolium ×brinkmannii gigantea perenne Braun) Asch. & Graebn. (A. Braun) Banfi, Galasso, (Lolium Foggi, Kopecký & Ardenghi gignanteum) Festuca Festuca Festuca ×schlickumii Grantzow Lolium ×schlickumii gigantea pratensis (Grantzow) Banfi, Galasso, (Lolium (Lolium Foggi, gignanteum) pratense) Kopecky & Ardenghi Festuca Lolium “×Festulolium nilssonii” Cugnac “×Festulolium nilssonii” gigantea multiflorum & A. Camus in Bull. Soc. Bot. Cugnac & A. Camus in Bull. (Lolium France 91: 19. 1944, nom. nud. Soc. Bot. France 91: 19. 1944, gignanteum) (Art. 39.1 of the ICN) nom. nud. (Art. 39.1 of the ICN)^(b) Festuca Festuca ×Festulolium wippraense (Wein) ×Festulolium wippraense heterophylla pratensis Banfi, Galasso, Foggi, (Wein) Banfi, Galasso, Foggi, Lam. (Lolium Kopecký & Ardenghi, Kopecký & Ardenghi, pratense) Festuca Festuca Festuca ×pseudofallax Wein ×Festulolium pseudofallax ovina L. pratensis (Wein) Banfi, Galasso, Foggi, (Lolium Kopecký & Ardenghi^(c) pratense) Festuca Lolium ×Festulolium colinii Cugnac & ×Festulolium colinii Cugnac pratensis temulentum A. Camus ex A. Camus & A. Camus ex A. Camus (Lolium pratense) Festuca Lolium ×Festulolium braunii (K. Richt.) Lolium ×elongatum (Ehrh.) pratensis perenne A. Camus (1927) Banfi, Galasso, Foggi, (Lolium ×Festulolium loliaceum(Huds.) Kopecký & Ardenghie pratense) P. Fourn (1935) Festuca Lolium Festuca ×subnutans Holmb. Lolium ×subnutans (Holmb.) pratensis multiflorum Banfi, Galasso, Foggi, (Lolium Kopecký pratense) & Ardenghi (2017) [Lolium multiflorum Lam. × L. pratense (Huds.) Darbysh.] ≡ Festuca ×subnutans Holmb. in Bot. Not. 1930: 94. 1930-Type: not designated.^(d) Festuca Festuca Festuca ×hercynica Wein Festulolium × rubra pratensis hercynicum (Wein) Banfi, (Lolium Galasso, Foggi, Kopecký & pratense) Ardenghi Festuca Lolium “×Festulolium frederici” “×Festulolium frederici” rubra perenne Cugnac & A. Camus in Bull. Soc. Cugnac & A. Camus in Bull. Bot. France 91: 19. 1944, nom. Soc. nud. (Art. 39.1 of the ICN) Bot. France 91: 19. 1944, nom. nud. (Art. 39.1 of the ICN)^(e) ^(a) “×Fesutulolium pabulare”; an invalid name of uncertain origin. ^(b)“×Festulolium nilssonii” Cugnac & A. Camus is based on a previous description in German (without name) by Nilsson (1930), thus it is not validly published (Art. 39.1 of the ICN). It is an artificial hybrid (Nilsson, 1930). ^(c)×Festulolium braunii (K. Richt.) A. Camus; Festuca ×braunii K. Richt., based on F. loliacea var.; aristata A. Braun ex Döll, is a short-awned form of Lolium ×elongatum, erroneously considered as a hybrid between L. multiflorum and L. pratense; the correct name of the latter is L. ×subnutans (Holmberg, 1930). ^(d)×Festulolium braunii (K. Richt.) A. Camus; Festuca ×braunii K. Richt., based on F. loliacea var.; aristata A. Braun ex Döll, is a short-awned form of Lolium ×elongatum, erroneously considered as a hybrid between L. multiflorum and L. pratense; the correct name of the latter is L. ×subnutans (Holmberg, 1930). ^(e)“×Festulolium frederici” Cugnac & A. Camus is based on a previous description in German (without name) by Nilsson (1933), thus it is not validly published (Art. 39.1 of the ICN). It is a spontaneous hybrid (Nilsson, 1933). This plant is reported by Stace (2010) to be known in the wild only from Sweden; previous records from Great Britain are erroneous (Banfi et al. 2017).

Historically and traditionally, Festulolium cultivars have only been developed for forage qualities (Ghesquiere et al., 2010; Hopkins et al., 2009). Table 2 presents some of the released cultivars of Festulolium and their pedigree. In forages, the fescues contribute qualities such as high dry matter yield, resistance to cold, drought tolerance and persistence, while ryegrass is characterized by rapid establishment, good spring growth, good digestibility, sugar content and palatability. The individual Festulolium cultivars contain various combinations of these qualities, but all are substantially higher yielding than their parent lines. While Festulolium have been around for many years as forage and fodder, there are no commercially available cultivars of Festulolium available for permanent or overseeding turf use. This is the first time turf type Festulolium cultivars have been developed specifically for turf applications.

TABLE 2 Pedigree Cultivar Parent Parent Use Becva Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Felina Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Felovia Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Fojtan Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Hykor Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Johnstone Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Kenhy Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Korina Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea KY2N56 Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Lesana Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Lofa Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Mahulena Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Puga Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Vetra Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage arundinacea Achilles Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Agula Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Elmet Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Emrys Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Felopa Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Festum Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Hostyn Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Lifema Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Paulena Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Paulito Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Perseus Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Perun Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Punia DS Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Rakopan Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Sulino Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Tatay II Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Banka Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis Barfest Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis Duo Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis FuRs9806 Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis Gibrid Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis Kaibanka Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis Kemal Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis Matrix Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis Prior Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis Saikava Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis Spring Green Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis Theophano Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium perenne Forage pratensis Evergreen Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Kemal Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Tandem Festuca (Lolium) x Lolium multiflorum Forage pratensis Lueur Lolium multiflorum x Festuca glaucescens Forage Lusilium Lolium multiflorum x Festuca glaucescens Forage Luxane Lolium multiflorum x Festuca glaucescens Forage

A stable cultivar of American Ryegrass would be a desirable grass for use in both 1) overseeding of dormant warm season grasses; and 2) permanent turf in more temperate climates.

A turf type Festulolium would be a desirable grass for use in overseeding of dormant warm season grasses, since its lack of heat tolerance allows for a smooth transition for the warm-season grass. Festulolium will provide a green cover during the winter months but will die out when the temperatures increase which allow the warm-season grass to grow.

For many southern golf courses planted with Bermuda grass, a standard practice is to overseed every fall with diploid perennial ryegrass. Diploid perennial ryegrass provides an outstanding turf cover during the cool winter months. However, diploid perennial ryegrass is very persistent and does not easily die out and give way for the re-emerging Bermuda grass in the spring when warm weather returns.

Turfgrass managers could utilize a cultivar that has a dark green color, rapid establishment, and the ability to transition rapidly. The two most widely used species for overseeding are annual and diploid perennial ryegrass. Annual ryegrass, such as the variety ‘Gulf,’ have an undesirable color and a very rapid vertical extension rate which results in frequent mowing. Diploid perennial ryegrass has been developed for heat tolerance and permanent turf use and therefore does not transition well.

American Ryegrass in more temperate climates will provide a permanent turf more cold tolerance, with good winter color, and better drought tolerance and persistence than perennial ryegrass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Turf type Festulolium cultivars (including, but not exclusive to) known as breeder's codes: AMPT001; AMPT002; AMPT003; AMPT005; AMPT006; AMPT007; AMPT008; AMPT009; AMPT010; and AMPT011, and methods used to produce the grass are provided. The grass is useful as a short lived, improved turfgrass on golf courses, athletic fields, lawns and other areas using seeded turfgrasses. The grass is also useful in overseeding of dormant warm season grasses since its lack of heat tolerance allows for a smooth transition for the warm-season grass. Turf type Festulolium will provide a green cover during the winter months but will die out when the temperatures increases to the point which allow the warm-season grass to grow. Turf type Festulolium, in more temperate climates, will provide a permanent turf more cold tolerance, with good winter color, and better drought tolerance and persistence than perennial ryegrass.

Turf type Festulolium cultivars of the present invention are different from all other known Festulolium cultivars in that they have the following characteristics:

Flag Mature Flag Leaf Flag Leaf Plant Leaf Blade Panicle Leaf Sheath Leaf Blade Height Height Height Length Length Length Length CULTIVAR (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) American 92.140 58.015 38.783 49.392 35.628 16.030 34.117 Ryegrass CV 16.857 21.476 30.402 17.227 20.372 26.906 19.526 LSD 4.695 3.727 3.250 2.738 2.191 1.420 1.961 Minimum 76.332 48.667 22.835 44.203 29.817 15.253 27.085 Maximum 98.873 62.908 42.158 69.403 40.530 25.235 34.838 Leaf Blade Flag Leaf Sheath Leaf Blade Lemma Lemma Glume Spike Spikelet Length Width Width Length Width Length Length Length CULTIVAR (cm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (cm) (mm) American 9.893 4.65 5.08 7.847 1.782 10.950 24.728 16.218 Ryegrass CV 24.157 28.30 24.34 9.507 15.695 17.124 17.643 16.463 LSD 0.763 0.42 0.37 0.222 0.081 0.493 1.286 0.792 Minimum 8.930 4.05 3.97 7.328 1.517 5.102 21.060 14.307 Maximum 13.468 5.48 5.68 8.073 1.835 10.950 26.452 16.832

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a table showing draught data from Albany, Oreg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used in the broad context in grasses, the term “overseeding” relates to the process of placing grass seed over an existing stand of turfgrass.

As used in the context of this document, the term “overseeding” relates only to the use of cool-season grasses sown into an existing warm season grass turf, for the purpose of having a green cover during the winter months when the warm-season grass is dormant.

As used in the context of this document, the term “permanent turf” relates to temperate climates in which in invention is more cold tolerant, with good winter color, spring green-up, and better drought tolerance and persistence than perennial ryegrass

Key Elements in Overseeding Turfgrass

Establishment—It is important in an overseeding grass to have rapid establishment. This includes a quick germination of the seed and the ability to tiller into areas adjacent to the next seedling.

Color—Many users of overseeding grasses prefer a dark green color. A light color grass can be made darker by applying iron. However, the user generally prefers to not do this unless the grass is too light in color.

Transition—A desirable transition grass is one that will die completely when the warm season grass is starting to reach its peak performance. The overseeding grass cannot die too quickly in the spring before the warm-season grass has an opportunity to grow.

Discussion of Current Species Used.

Annual ryegrass-Annual ryegrass was used extensively for overseeding prior to 1970. With breeding improvements of perennial ryegrass the use of annual ryegrass has declined. Annual ryegrass has an excellent germination rate but lacks tillering ability. Annual ryegrass is light in color and usually transitions too abruptly. The course leaf texture and very fast growth rate are undesirable.

Diploid Perennial ryegrass—Perennial ryegrass has a quick germination. It germinates slower than annual ryegrass but still within an acceptable range for the user. It has a very good tillering ability but in some cases it is too aggressive resulting in damage to the warm season grass. Newer cultivars of perennial ryegrass have excellent, dark green, color. The newer varieties of perennial ryegrass which are being sold as overseeding grasses were developed for permanent turf use. The result is a poor transitioning ability. This has resulted in the use of chemical applications to remove the perennial ryegrass. When this is necessary the turf has damage for several weeks, until the warm-season grass can recover.

Intermediate ryegrass-Intermediate ryegrass performance is more difficult to predict. It is a cross between annual and perennial ryegrass. If only one cross is made the performance is most similar to annual ryegrass. Each successive backcross to perennial ryegrass results in performance similar to diploid perennial ryegrass. A problem with current intermediate ryegrass is that it often transitions too rapidly, before the warm-season grass has a desirable level of performance.

Poa trivialis and Fine fescues—Both of these have slow germination and establishment. Because of this they are commonly used in mixtures with other grasses. The cost of producing these grasses is higher and as a result they are not usually used alone. The fine fescues have good transitioning ability compared to Poa trivialis.

American Ryegrass—has a rich very dark green color, high tiller density and slow vertical growth rate. All previous Festulolium cultivars have been developed for forage use, and therefore have a light color, poor turf density, and a rapid vertical growth rate. American Ryegrass has a rapid germination and establishment rate, and transitions when used in overseeding with Bermuda grass (warm-season). American Ryegrass transitions better than diploid perennial ryegrass. American Ryegrass in more temperate climates, will provide a permanent turf more cold tolerance, with good winter color, and better drought tolerance and persistence than perennial ryegrass.

TABLE 3 Transition in warm season Species Used Establishment Color grasses Annual ryegrass E P E American Ryegrass E E E Diploid Perennial VG E P-F ryegrass Poa trivialis F P F Intermediate ryegrass VG F-G G Meadow fescue VG G E E—excellent; VG—very good; F—fair; P—poor

Morphological descriptors for American Ryegrass (Turf type Festulolium) can be found in Tables 4a-f, wherein the following definitions are used:

-   -   1. Genetic Color—the measure of the amount of lightness or         darkness of green color. Recorded as a 1-9 subjective rating         where 9=dark;     -   2. Growth Habit—the degree of erectness of a single plant.         1=prostrate (flat), 2=semi-prostrate, 3=horizontal,         7=semi-erect, 9=erect;     -   3. Inflorescence—the flowering portion of a grass plant (in         ryegrass the inflorescence is a spike);     -   4. Spike Length—measured from the upper most node to the apex of         the inflorescence;     -   5. Node—the joint on a grass culm; A swollen region on the stem;     -   6. Leaf Blade—the flattened portion of a grass leaf located         above the leaf sheath;     -   7. Leaf Blade Length—the length of the leaf blade; Measured on         the first leaf subtending the flag leaf in cm;     -   8. Leaf Blade Width—measure of the width of the first blade         subtending the flag leaf in mm taken 1 cm from the collar;     -   9. Leaf Blade Height—the height of the leaf blade from the         ground to the collar in cm;     -   10. Leaf Sheath Length—the length of the leaf sheath. Measured         on the first leaf subtending the flag leaf in cm.;     -   11. Flag Leaf—the first leaf blade subtending the inflorescence;     -   12. Flag Leaf Length—the total length of a flag leaf which         includes the sheath and blade. Measured from the uppermost node         to the end of the upper most blade in cm.,     -   13. Flag Leaf Width—the measure of the width of the flag leaf         blade taken 1 cm from the collar of the flag leaf in mm.;     -   14. Flag Leaf Height—the height of the flag leaf, measured from         the ground to the collar of the flag leaf in cm.;     -   15. Flag Leaf Sheath Length—the sheath length of the flag leaf,         measured from the node to the collar in cm.;     -   16. Mature Plant Height—the height in cm of a mature plant from         the ground to the apex of a mature inflorescence     -   17. Glume—the first pair of bracts at the base of a spikelet;     -   18. Spikelet—the basic unit of a grass inflorescence, includes         glumes, lemmas, paleas and reproductive organs;     -   19. Floret—the portion of the spikelet that may include lemma,         palea and reproductive organs;     -   20. Lemma—an odd veined bract above the glumes.     -   21. Palea—the 0—two veined bract above the glumes and lemma,         subtending the reproductive organs;     -   22. Seed Size—the relative size of seeds usually measured by         determining the number of seeds per pound;     -   23. 1000—seed weight—the weight of 1,000 whole seeds;     -   24. Turfgrass Density—the number of tillers per unit area of a         turfgrass sward;     -   25. Turf—a covering of mowed vegetation usually a grass;     -   26. Turfgrass—a species or cultivar of grass that is a mowed         turf;     -   27. Turf Color—a visual and digital analysis score of the         turfgrass community, when visual the color is measured on a         scale of 1-9 with 9 being dark; and     -   28. Turf Quality—the degree to which a turf conforms to a         standard of uniformity, density, texture, growth habit, color         and is generally taken as subjective data on a 1-9 scale with 9         being the best quality.

TABLE 4a Heading Date Anthesis Date Julian Days Julian Days CULTIVAR 2015 2016 2015 2016 AMFT114 127.67 126.00 147.33 141.67 APRT2344 134.67 129.00 153.33 150.33 APMT002 134.33 128.67 152.00 148.67 APMT003 136.00 129.67 154.33 149.00 APMT004 133.33 127.33 151.33 147.67 APMT005 135.00 129.33 152.67 151.00 CV 2.15 1.76 1.36 1.42 LSD (0.05) 2.37 0.97 1.87 1.20 GRAND 133.50 128.33 151.83 148.06 MEAN MIN. MEAN 127.67 126.00 147.33 141.67 MAX. 136.00 129.67 154.33 151.00 MEAN

TABLE 4b Mature Plant Flag Leaf Leaf Blade Plant Width Height Height Height (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) CULTIVAR 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 AMFT114 23.767 21.900 96.767 108.633 55.333 64.500 22.833 32.533 APRT2344 30.333 24.600 76.333 74.900 48.667 44.967 29.033 29.100 APMT002 33.233 25.800 98.867 86.700 61.733 53.267 41.333 36.400 APMT003 33.633 26.533 92.733 80.933 59.233 49.400 38.867 31.933 APMT004 31.367 24.600 98.133 84.100 62.900 53.000 42.167 35.667 APMT005 31.833 26.667 92.167 82.500 58.033 51.567 38.767 34.500 CV 6.663 6.194 6.175 4.208 8.463 4.955 12.324 7.116 LSD (0.05) 3.027 2.293 8.452 5.373 7.220 3.870 6.475 3.513 GRAND 30.694 25.017 92.500 86.294 57.650 52.783 35.500 33.356 MEAN MIN. 23.767 21.900 76.333 74.900 48.667 44.967 22.833 29.100 MEAN MAX. 33.633 26.667 98.867 108.633 62.900 64.500 42.167 36.400 MEAN

TABLE 4c Panicle Flag Leaf Flag Leaf Flag Leaf Length Length Sheath Length Internode Length (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) CULTIVAR 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 AMFT114 69.433 71.400 40.567 41.967 25.233 27.567 20.100 19.033 APRT2344 44.200 43.533 29.800 30.033 15.567 14.067 14.167 8.900 APMT002 51.867 47.767 38.067 34.400 16.267 15.500 14.233 10.067 APMT003 49.233 45.833 36.367 33.700 15.600 14.233 14.867 9.800 APMT004 51.500 45.667 34.833 32.433 15.233 14.667 15.267 9.567 APMT005 49.400 47.367 35.633 34.033 16.033 15.067 13.700 9.767 CV 4.532 4.480 7.075 4.517 7.322 4.474 10.047 3.942 LSD (0.05) 3.528 3.332 3.757 2.301 1.877 1.116 2.288 0.653 GRAND 52.606 50.261 35.878 34.428 17.322 16.850 15.389 11.189 MEAN MIN. 44.200 43.533 29.800 30.033 15.233 14.067 13.700 8.900 MEAN MAX. 69.433 71.400 40.567 41.967 25.233 27.567 20.100 19.033 MEAN

TABLE 4d Leaf Blade Leaf Sheath Flag Leaf Leaf Blade Length (cm) Length (cm) Width (mm) Width (mm) CULTIVAR 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 AMFT114 34.733 38.533 13.467 19.700 5.00 7.67 5.33 9.00 APRT2344 27.100 29.367 8.900 11.633 4.33 5.33 4.00 5.00 APMT002 34.833 33.633 10.200 12.967 5.33 6.33 5.67 6.67 APMT003 34.533 32.167 10.133 12.733 5.33 5.67 5.00 6.00 APMT004 34.867 30.900 10.100 13.167 5.00 6.00 5.00 6.67 APMT005 34.133 34.067 9.900 12.667 4.67 6.00 5.00 6.00 CV 6.180 4.517 6.591 4.484 9.53 9.36 8.94 5.33 LSD (0.05) 3.052 2.213 1.019 0.917 0.70 0.85 0.66 0.52 GRAND MEAN 33.367 33.111 10.450 13.811 4.94 6.17 5.00 6.56 MIN. MEAN 27.100 29.367 8.900 11.633 4.33 5.33 4.00 5.00 MAX. MEAN 34.867 38.533 13.467 19.700 5.33 7.67 5.67 9.00

TABLE 4e Lemma Lemma Lemma Awn Glume Length of Length Width Length Length Spike (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (cm) CULTIVAR 2015 2016 2015 2016 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 AMFT114 7.700 7.533 1.667 1.433 0.200 5.100 4.933 23.600 22.167 APRT2344 7.333 7.133 1.500 1.233 0.000 9.933 9.900 21.067 20.533 APMT002 7.933 7.367 1.833 1.467 0.233 10.433 10.133 26.433 26.033 APMT003 7.667 7.433 1.733 1.433 0.033 10.600 10.333 24.300 23.033 APMT004 8.100 7.700 1.767 1.433 0.067 10.367 9.867 25.100 23.800 APMT005 7.833 7.767 1.800 1.433 0.000 10.933 10.967 24.733 24.200 CV 3.274 2.482 8.705 3.597 157.321 4.130 4.310 5.774 6.491 LSD (0.05) 0.376 0.275 0.221 0.075 0.207 0.584 0.597 2.068 2.238 GRAND 7.761 7.489 1.717 1.406 0.089 9.561 9.356 24.206 23.294 MEAN MIN. 7.333 7.133 1.500 1.233 0.000 5.100 4.933 21.067 20.533 MEAN MAX. 8.100 7.767 1.833 1.467 0.233 10.933 10.967 26.433 26.033 MEAN

TABLE 4f Spikelets Florets Spikelet Per Spike Per Spikelet Length Count Count (mm) CULTIVAR 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 AMFT114 53.00 48.33 6.67 7.00 16.600 16.833 APRT2344 21.67 20.33 7.67 7.67 14.333 14.433 APMT002 27.33 25.67 8.00 8.00 16.333 16.133 APMT003 25.33 24.00 7.67 8.00 15.533 15.467 APMT004 27.67 25.67 8.33 9.00 16.833 17.033 APMT005 26.33 25.00 8.67 8.33 16.233 16.600 CV 12.55 6.32 8.40 7.91 4.154 5.703 LSD (0.05) 5.61 2.63 0.97 0.94 0.982 1.357 GRAND 30.22 28.17 7.83 8.00 15.978 16.083 MEAN MIN. MEAN 21.67 20.33 6.67 7.00 14.333 14.433 MAX. 53.00 48.33 8.67 9.00 16.833 17.033 MEAN

EXAMPLES

The following examples are furnished to further illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention beyond the examples set forth in the appended claim.

Example 1—Development of American Ryegrass (Turf Type Festulolium)

Tetraploid Perennial Ryegrass Parent:

In 1990, the breeding research program that resulted in the tetraploid perennial ryegrass parent was initiated. The following breeding history describes the procedures used:

From 1990-2004, turf type perennial ryegrass populations were developed through traditional plant breeding methodologies for open-pollinated species. One of the resulting populations was APR1797. APR1797 is comprised of 13 lines sprigged from the 03LLP2 turf trial in New Jersey. The plants selected for resistance to gray leaf spot. Gray leaf spot disease is caused by the fungus Pyricularia grisea, also referred to as Magnaporthe grisea. 150 plants from each line were planted, the lines interpollinated and harvested by progeny line and designated APR1797.

In Fall 2004, seed of APR1797 was sent to a laboratory for chromosome doubling, as follows:

2004 Day 1

-   -   1. 1.5 grams of seed from each experimental line is weighed and         replicated eight times.     -   2. A check for each line is also weighed.     -   3. The seeds are disinfected for 30 minutes in a 2% thirarn         solution.     -   4. The seeds are then washed for two hours in a running water         bath at 35 degree Celsius.     -   5. The seeds are placed on blotting paper and dried for three         hours at 35 degree Celsius.     -   6. The seeds are then wrapped in a wet blotting paper for         germination. The seeds are placed in a controlled environment;         21 degree Celsius for 24 hours.     -   1. The seeds are inspected for root length. The root length for         optimal colchicine treatment is 2-3 mm. All the seeds with root         length of 2-3 mm are placed in a petri dish. The seeds are kept         separate by experimental line, as are the checks.     -   2. Colchicine solution: 0.2 grams colchicine, 1 ml Tween 80, 1         ml DMSO, 98 ml distilled water.     -   3. Add 3 ml colchicine solution to each Petri dish; 3 ml of         distilled water to the checks. Shake the Petri dishes gently for         good distribution of the colchicine. Place the colchicine         treated seeds in the dark for 2 hours at 30 degree Celsius.     -   4. The seeds are placed in a strainer and rinsed with water for         15 minutes.     -   5. The seeds are placed on blotting paper and placed in a         germinator; 20 degree Celsius for 5-10 days.

2004 Day 8-12

-   -   1. The 4N plants can be removed from the other seedlings; the 4N         plants are thicker.     -   2. For many of the seeds, the colchicine will be lethal; for         some of the seeds the colchicine will not enter the tissue,         resulting in normal 2N plants.     -   3. The 4N plants are planted in soil and moved to the         greenhouse.

Fall 2004, plants moved into isolated crossing block in field.

Spring 2005, plants in the field are rechecked, by flow cytometry, to confirm all are still 4N. Any plants not 4N are removed from the nursery.

Summer 2005, plants harvested and seed was sent by to NexGen, Albany, Oreg. and designated APRT2066. In August, the seed was started and seedlings checked by flow cytometry for ploidy level. Any plant found to be not 4N was discarded.

In September 2005, a single spaced plant increase nursery was established. From seed. Plants used to start a plant selection field of 100 plants per block replicated 5 times.

May 2006, the nursery was evaluated for; dark genetic color, fine leaf texture, crown density, and freedom from disease (Puccinia graminis).

Summer 2006. After evaluation for plant type and ploidy, 264 clones were moved together for hybridization, and designated APRT2114; 27 clones were removed for being early in heading; the plants were confirmed to be 4N, with a flow cytometer, prior to flowering.

Summer 2007, seed of APRT2114 was harvested and bulked.

APRT2114 went through two cycles of selection for resistance to Pypiculeria grisea (Gray Leafspot) and was designated APRT2344.

This will be one of the parents of American ryegrass.

Tetraploid Meadow Fescue Parent:

In 1988, the breeding research program that resulted in the tetraploid meadow fescue parent was initiated. The following breeding history describes the procedures used:

From 1988-2010, turf type meadow fescue populations were developed through traditional plant breeding methodologies for open-pollinated species. One of the resulting populations was AMF112. AMF112 in comprised of the top 102 progeny (>68 g/plant) bulked of AMF109 from an 800 plant nursery.

In Summer 2010, seed of AMF112 was doubled in chromosome at the NexGen Turf Research facility in Albany, Oreg., as follows:

2010 Day 1

-   -   1. 1.5 grams of seed from each experimental line is weighed and         replicated eight times.     -   2. A check for each line is also weighed.     -   3. The seeds are disinfected for 30 minutes in a 2% thirarn         solution.     -   4. The seeds are then washed for two hours in a running water         bath at 35 degree Celsius.     -   5. The seeds are placed on blotting paper and dried for three         hours at 35 degree Celsius.     -   6. The seeds are then wrapped in a wet blotting paper for         germination. The seeds are placed in a controlled environment;         21 degree Celsius for 24 hours.     -   1. The seeds are inspected for root length. The root length for         optimal colchicine treatment is 2-3 mm. All the seeds with root         length of 2-3 mm are placed in a petri dish. The seeds are kept         separate by experimental line, as are the checks.     -   2. Colchicine solution: 0.2 grams colchicine, 1 ml Tween 80, 1         ml DMSO, 98 ml distilled water.     -   3. Add 3 ml colchicine solution to each Petri dish; 3 ml of         distilled water to the checks. Shake the Petri dishes gently for         good distribution of the colchicine. Place the colchicine         treated seeds in the dark for 2 hours at 30 degree Celsius.     -   4. The seeds are placed in a strainer and rinsed with water for         15 minutes.     -   5. The seeds are placed on blotting paper and placed in a         germinator; 20 degree Celsius for 5-10 days.

2010 Day 8-12

-   -   1. The 4N plants can be removed from the other seedlings; the 4N         plants are thicker.     -   2. For many of the seeds, the colchicine will be lethal. For         some of the seeds the colchicine will not enter the tissue,         resulting in normal 2N plants.     -   3. The 4N plants are planted in soil and moved to the greenhouse         and designated AMFT114.         -   This is the second parent of American ryegrass.             Hybridization and Development of APMT001 Turf Type             Festulolium (American Ryegrass)

Fall 2010: 76 were plants of AMFT114 were moved into isolated crossing block in field. Fifteen of these plants were used to cross with APRT2344.

2010: APMT001: 10 isolated single plant crosses were made crossing APRT2344 (female) x AMFT114 (male), 9 plants of APRT2344 were crossed by AMFT114. The cross was harvested by the female line APRT2344. The seed was bulked and designated APMT001. The first population of Turf Type Festulolium (American Ryegrass)

2011: A plant selection field (PSF) was established with APRT2344 and AMFT114 planted in borders to verify that APMT001 was a hybrid;

Table 5 provides the breeding history for the 11 populations of Turf Type Festulolium (American Ryegrass).

TABLE 5 Breeding General Code Comments Description of Process A75 2 Festulolium APMT001 A7501- APMT001: 10 isolated single plant crosses APRT2344 were made crossing APRT2344 (female) × × AMFT114 (male), 9 plants of APRT2344 AMFT114 were crossed by AMFT114. The cross was harvested by the female line APRT2344. The seed was bulked and designated APMT001. 2011: PSF was established with APRT2344 and AMFT114 planted in borders to verify that APMT001 was a hybrid; A75 2 Festulolium APMT002 A7501- APMT002: 40 winter active clones were APMT001 moved together prior to anthesis, criteria = winter active & not similar in appearance to the perennial ryegrass (4X) border, 2012: removed 8 clones at harvest due to poor fertility and seed set; 2013: Trialed in 13LFP1. 13AFP1; 2015: 14PVPFL1; A75 2 Festulolium APMT003 A7501- APMT003: 50 winter active clones were fine leaf moved together prior to anthesis, criteria = selection winter active, good crown density, fine from leaf texture. APMT002 2013: moved clonal group together in the spring (4/13); Harvest by progeny; Endophyte seed survey = 100% (12/13); bulked 36 clones of >30 grams of seed; Trialed in 13LFP1. 13AFP1; 2014: 14AFA1, 14LFA1, 14RFA1, 14UFA1; 14PVPFL1. 2015: Trialed in 15LFL1, 15ALP2; A75 2 Festulolium APMT004 A7501- APMT004: 50 winter active clones were fescue type moved together prior to anthesis, criteria = leaf winter active, good crown density, leaf selection texture similar to meadow fescue. from 2013: moved clonal group together APMT002 in the spring (4/20); Harvest by progeny; Endophyte seed survey = 100% (12/13); bulked 27 clones of >20 grams; 13LFP1; 13AFP1; 2014: Trialed in 14YLDLP1, 14AFA1, 14LFA1, 14RFA1, 14UFA1; 14PVPFL1; 2015: Trialed in 15ALP2; 15LFL1; A75 1 Festulolium APMT005 A7501- APMT005: selection from APMT003; selection 2013: 500 plant block of APMT003 from planted on NARF. APMT003 2014: 38 plants selected from APMT003. Plants moved together in isolation before anthesis; Harvest in bulk; Trialed in 14YLDLP1; 14PVPFL1; 2015: Trialed in 15ALP2; 15LFL1; A75 1 Festulolium APMT006 A7501- APMT006: selection from APMT003; selection 2013: 500 plant block of APMT003 from planted on NARF. APMT003 2014: 38 plants selected from APMT003 after summer stress; no irrigation applied summer 2014. 2015: Trialed in 15ALP2; 15LFL1; A75 2 Festulolium APMT007 A7501- APMT007: 54 progeny were selected with progeny yields greater than 90 grams per progeny. yield 2014: selection 2015: Trialed in 15ALP2; 15LFL1 + from progeny; APMT004 A75 1 Festulolium APMT008 A7501- APMT008: 55 progeny were selected with progeny yields greater than 100 grams per progeny. yield 2014: selection 2015: Trialed in 15ALP2; 15FL1 + from progeny; APMT005 Festulolium APMT009 A7501- APMT009: 100 plants removed from surv. 15LFL1. Removed 2016: established MB. from 2017: Harvest MB. 15LFL1 from APMT006 Festulolium APMT010 A7501- APMT010: Removed top progeny lines surv. from 15LFL1. Removed 2016: Removed 10 plants from the from following progeny; 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 17, 15LFL1 21, 25, 31, 32, 33, 34, 43, 49, 51, 53. top Established MB. progeny 2017: Harvest MB. from APMT007 Festulolium APMT011 A7501- APMT011: Removed top progeny lines surv. from 15LFL1. Removed 2016: Removed 10 plants from the from following progeny; 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 15LFL1 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 30, 32, 36, 37, 38, top 39, 40, 46, 47, 48, 53, 54, 55. progeny Established MB. from 2017: Harvest MB. APMT008

Example 2—Comparison with Other Turfgrasses

American ryegrass is the first Festulolium turf type to be used for turf application. American ryegrass is also the first Festulolium turf type that exhibits a fine leaf texture and dark leaf color. Leaf color is the density of chlorophyll in the leaf blade, resulting in the intensity of color. In the turfgrass industry, dark green color is preferred. The dark green color gives an impression of a more healthy vigorous turf.

Turf color can be measured quantitatively and qualitatively. Qualitatively, the relative color of the different cultivars can be scored using a 1-9 visual scale, 9 being the darkest green. Digital analysis can also be used to determine color. A digital picture is taken of the turf. The software program Sigma Scan is used to convert the pixel image to a standard color wheel (hue, saturation and brightness). It then generates a number on a 1-9 scale, with 9 being the darkest green.

Table 6, illustrates the visual comparisons for several cultivars taken in Albany, Oreg. during 2016. The ratings are based on the following: 1=light green; 3=medium-light green; 5=medium green; 7=medium-dark green; 9=dark green.

TABLE 6 Winter Winter Winter Winter Genetic Turf Genetic Turf Cover Density Ave. Quality Cover Density Color Quality Ave. Ave. Color Ave. Ave. Ave. Ave. Ave. Program Cultivar 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 PSC Soprano 7.33 6.42 6.75 7.00 8.06 5.72 7.78 7.61 TMI Manhattan 6 7.33 6.08 6.33 6.58 7.83 5.83 7.56 7.56 TMI Pizzazz 2 7.67 6.25 6.17 6.75 8.06 5.33 7.05 7.05 A7705 AMFT118 4.92 4.25 6.25 4.50 7.50 6.16 6.33 6.95 ProSeeds APRT2114 6.83 5.08 6.75 6.00 7.72 5.11 7.17 6.78 A7704 AMF117 6.08 5.08 5.42 5.08 7.67 6.50 5.56 6.72 Check Pop 7.00 5.75 6.00 5.92 7.44 4.61 7.33 6.56 A7501 APMT005 6.67 5.00 6.75 5.92 6.56 6.06 6.56 6.33 A7501 APMT006 6.42 5.08 6.33 5.67 6.83 6.17 5.83 6.33 A7501 APMT003 6.67 5.17 6.50 6.00 6.33 6.39 6.11 6.28 A7501 APMT004 6.92 5.50 6.17 5.83 5.78 7.22 5.44 6.05 A7501 APMT008 6.17 4.92 6.58 5.50 6.89 4.94 6.22 5.72 A7350 APR2936 7.17 5.17 5.08 5.42 7.11 4.89 5.72 5.67 A7350 APR2931 7.00 5.42 5.33 5.50 7.06 5.28 5.33 5.61 A7350 APR2916 5.83 4.67 4.42 4.08 6.94 4.67 5.83 5.44 A7501 APMT007 6.83 5.25 6.08 5.75 6.00 6.22 5.33 5.44 CV 4.61 7.48 5.29 6.34 2.70 6.76 3.17 4.45 LSD (0.05) 0.42 0.57 0.39 0.48 0.27 0.50 0.27 0.38 2016 Average Winter Cover = 1-9; 9 = Most Cover (2 ratings) 2016 Average Winter Genetic Color = 1-9; 9 = Darkest (2 ratings) 2016 Average Winter Density = 1-9; 9 = Most Dense (2 ratings) 2016 Average Winter Turf Quality = 1-9; 9 = Best (2 ratings) 2016 Average Cover = 1-9; 9 = Most Cover (3 ratings) 2016 Average Genetic Color = 1-9; 9 = Darkest (3 ratings) 2016 Average Density = 1-9; 9 = Most Dense (3 ratings) 2016 Average Turf Quality = 1-9; 9 = Best (3 ratings)

Example 3—Overseeding Study

Materials and Methods:

This study was conducted during the 2015-2016 growing season for cool-season grasses in the transition zone under athletic field/fairway conditions. Forty-six entries of cool-season grasses (ryegrasses) listed in Table 1 were overseeded on a ‘Patriot’ bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) grown on Cecil sandy loam (fine kaolinitic, thermic, Typic Kanhapludults) on 15 Oct. 2015. Bermudagrass check plots, which were not overseeded, were included in the study for comparison. The field study was conducted at the North Carolina State University's Lake Wheeler Turfgrass Field Lab.

The overseeding study was conducted on Patriot bermudagrass that was scalped to 0.5 inch with a reel mower before overseeding. A shaker bottle was used to hand seed all plots accurately and uniformly. Ryegrass (Lolium spp.) entries were seeded at a rate of 12 pounds per 1000 ft2. Light irrigation was applied twice daily for three weeks following seeding. This was then reduced to a maximum of once per day to replace water loss from evapotranspiration.

The study was mown with a reel mower for the first time fifteen days after seeding at a 0.9-inch bench height and was mown at this height twice weekly until day 55. The mowing height was reduced to 0.75 inch on day 56 and was continued at this height until the end of the study. The study area was generally mown three times a week.

An application of 1 pound N per 1000 ft2 was applied using 24-0-11 on 11 November, followed by 0.5 pounds of N per 1000 ft2 from 24-0-11 on 2 December, 15 January, 19 February, 22 March, and 20 April. So, a total of 3.5 pounds of N per 1000 ft2 was applied during the study.

No herbicide, fungicide, or insecticides were applied to the area during the study.

Ratings included visual estimates of percent cover (0-100%), color (1=brown; 2=brownish-yellow; 3=yellow; 4=yellow-green; 5=greenish-yellow; 6=green; 7=bluish-green; 8=dark green; and 9=deep dark green), and quality (overall appearance and stand uniformity value) with 1=dead grass, 6=minimally acceptable, and 9=highest quality. Digital color photo analysis was conducted once monthly from day 28 through the end of the study. Photographs were taken using a Nikon D80 SLR camera and analyzed with ImageJ software to determine hue (H) saturation (S) and brightness (B) values. Digital green color index (DGCI) values were calculated (DGCI value=[(H−60)/60+(1−S)+(1−B)]/3). Red-Green-Blue (RGB) via digital image analysis was used to determine ryegrass genetic color. A visual 1-9 texture estimate was taken in March (168 DAP) with 1=very coarse and 9=fine. A visual 1-9 density estimate was taken in March (168 DAP) with 9 equaling maximum density. In addition to that data, in March (168 DAP) root shear ratings (N m force) were measured using a Clegg Shear tester.

The study was planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. All data were subjected to analysis of variance. Means were separated using a Fisher's protected LSD test at 5% level of probability. Data were summarized as growth rate and color across date intervals and presented as gross means in Tables 9 and 13. Data collected from individual dates were summarized in tables and presented with LSD values and variation as CV %.

TABLE 7 Composition and seed source of cool-season turfgrasses evaluated in overseeding trials during the 2015-2016 winter season and transition period. Entry Number Entry Name Seed Type Sponsoring Company 1 SPR Overseeding Perennial Ledeboer Seed LLC Blend 2 Natural Knit Perennial Ledeboer Seed LLC 3 Divine Perennial Thomas Ag Service 4 Approach Annual Thomas Ag Service 5 Cascadia Perennial Thomas Ag Service 6 Turf Merchant 50/50 Perennial/ Turf Merchants Mix Intermediate 7 Turf Merchant 75/25 Perennial/ Turf Merchants Mix Intermediate 8 Allaire 3 Perennial Turf Merchants 9 Nomad 4 Perennial Turf Merchants 10 Palmetto Intermediate Turf Merchants 11 CS-IR-228 Not Specified Columbia Seeds 12 CS-AT-1 Not Specified Columbia Seeds 13 CS-AR-106 Not Specified Columbia Seeds 14 CS-CO-1 Not Specified Columbia Seeds 15 CS-PRB Not Specified Columbia Seeds 16 APMT005 Not Specified Nexgen Turf Research 17 Seabiscuit Perennial Lebanon Seaboard Corp. 18 Man O'War Perennial Lebanon Seaboard Corp. 19 HS-35 Perennial Allied Seed 20 HS-36 Perennial Allied Seed 21 ASP1001 GL Perennial Allied Seed 22 ASP0112 Perennial Allied Seed 23 ASP0113 Perennial Allied Seed 24 ASP6002 Perennial Allied Seed 25 Frontier Perennial Allied Seed 26 Singular Perennial Allied Seed 27 Solstice II Intermediate Mountain View Seeds 28 Breakout Annual Mountain View Seeds 29 PPG-PR-321 Perennial Mountain View Seeds 30 PPG-PR-303 Perennial Mountain View Seeds 31 PPG-PR-308 Perennial Mountain View Seeds 32 Replicator Perennial DLF Pickseed USA 33 Quickston Annual DLF Pickseed USA 34 PSAR-09-2 Annual DLF Pickseed USA 35 Candidame Annual DLF Pickseed USA 36 Tetradark Perennial DLF Pickseed USA 37 FLIRFC-4 Intermediate DLF Pickseed USA 38 NAI-ALS5 Perennial Novel AG, Inc. 39 NAI-PL2 Perennial Novel AG, Inc. 40 NAI-LCP-186 Perennial Novel AG, Inc. 41 NAI-COM-ST Perennial Novel AG, Inc. 42 Prosport 4 Perennial Novel AG, Inc. 43 PPG-PR-172 Perennial Smith Seed Services 44 PPG-TAR-113 Not Specified Smith Seed Services 45 Gulf Annual Check entry, locally sourced 46 Carly Perennial Locally sourced 47 Untreated Control NA NA

TABLE 8 To determine month that data was taken, refer to key at bottom of table. First Day of Each Month November December January February March April May June Days After Over-seeding 17 47 78 109 138 169 199 230

TABLE 9 Overseed cover rate (%) estimates and (normalized) average daily coverage rate (%) for first 28 days after overseeding Patriot bermudagrass on 15 October. Average daily coverage rate for first Turfgrass Cover Rate month 1 3.14 3.15 2 2.93 2.92 3 3.07 2.98 4 3.17 3.04 5 3.14 3.10 6 3.17 2.98 7 3.14 3.10 8 3.38 3.21 9 2.95 2.92 10 2.88 2.92 11 3.10 2.92 12 2.90 2.80 13 2.76 2.74 14 3.05 2.86 15 2.95 2.74 16 2.48 2.50 17 3.14 3.10 18 2.95 2.92 19 3.31 3.21 20 3.26 3.15 21 2.98 2.98 22 3.07 3.04 23 2.88 2.74 24 2.86 2.80 25 2.86 2.86 26 3.02 2.92 27 3.17 2.92 28 3.21 3.10 29 2.69 2.68 30 3.00 3.04 31 2.57 2.68 32 2.74 2.62 33 3.19 2.98 34 3.50 3.21 35 3.02 2.92 36 2.33 2.50 37 2.93 2.92 38 3.29 3.10 39 2.50 2.62 40 3.21 3.10 41 3.14 2.98 42 3.02 2.98 43 2.93 2.86 44 2.86 2.80 45 3.48 3.15 46 3.45 3.21 47 0.00 0.00 LSD 0.343 0.321 (P = 0.05) CV % 7 7

TABLE 10 Cover rate estimates after overseeding Patriot bermudagrass on 15 October. Turfgrass Turfgrass Cover Estimates at Day 7 14 21 28 42 56 70 84 98 112 1 3.33 48.33 80.00 88.33 91.67 91.67 96.67 98.33 98.33 98.33 2 5.00 46.67 71.67 81.67 86.67 90.00 93.33 95.00 95.00 95.00 3 1.67 53.33 76.67 83.33 88.33 91.67 95.00 96.67 96.67 96.67 4 3.33 58.33 75.00 85.00 86.67 91.67 95.00 96.67 95.67 95.67 5 5.00 50.00 78.33 86.67 91.67 95.00 96.67 98.33 98.33 98.33 6 3.33 56.67 78.33 83.33 83.33 91.67 91.67 96.67 95.67 95.67 7 5.00 51.67 76.67 86.67 90.00 91.67 96.67 98.33 96.33 96.33 8 5.00 60.00 81.67 90.00 93.33 95.00 98.33 98.33 98.33 98.33 9 5.00 46.67 73.33 81.67 85.00 88.33 93.33 97.33 97.33 97.33 10 1.67 46.67 71.67 81.67 85.00 90.00 93.33 95.00 94.00 94.00 11 1.67 55.00 78.33 81.67 83.33 88.33 91.67 95.00 95.00 95.00 12 1.67 51.67 71.67 78.33 83.33 88.33 90.00 96.67 96.67 96.67 13 0.00 48.33 68.33 76.67 80.00 86.67 88.33 93.33 93.33 93.33 14 5.00 55.00 73.33 80.00 80.00 83.33 85.00 90.00 90.00 90.00 15 5.00 51.67 73.33 76.67 81.67 86.67 88.33 88.33 88.33 88.33 16 5.00 36.67 61.67 70.00 71.67 78.33 80.00 83.33 83.33 83.33 17 5.00 50.00 78.33 86.67 86.67 91.67 93.33 96.67 96.67 96.67 18 3.33 50.00 71.67 81.67 85.00 90.00 91.67 96.67 96.67 96.67 19 5.00 56.67 80.00 90.00 91.67 96.67 96.67 98.33 98.33 98.33 20 3.33 56.67 80.00 88.33 90.00 95.00 95.00 96.67 96.67 96.67 21 0.00 48.33 76.67 83.33 90.00 93.33 93.33 95.00 95.00 95.00 22 3.33 50.00 76.67 85.00 86.67 90.00 93.33 95.00 93.33 93.33 23 3.33 50.00 71.67 76.67 81.67 86.67 88.33 95.00 95.00 95.00 24 5.00 45.00 71.67 78.33 83.33 86.67 90.00 93.33 93.33 93.33 25 5.00 43.33 71.67 80.00 85.00 88.33 91.67 96.67 96.67 95.00 26 3.33 51.67 75.00 81.67 86.67 91.67 91.67 96.67 96.67 96.67 27 1.67 60.00 78.33 81.67 85.00 88.33 93.33 93.33 88.33 88.33 28 1.67 56.67 80.00 86.67 88.33 95.00 98.33 100.00 98.33 98.33 29 3.33 41.67 68.33 75.00 81.67 85.00 88.33 93.33 93.33 93.33 30 1.67 46.67 76.67 85.00 90.00 95.00 95.00 97.33 97.33 97.33 31 3.33 35.00 66.67 75.00 80.00 85.00 88.33 91.67 91.67 91.67 32 3.33 46.67 68.33 73.33 76.67 80.00 83.33 88.33 88.33 88.33 33 5.00 58.33 76.67 83.33 85.00 90.00 93.33 96.67 93.33 93.33 34 3.33 68.33 83.33 90.00 90.00 93.33 95.00 96.67 95.00 95.00 35 1.67 53.33 75.00 81.67 83.33 90.00 93.33 98.33 98.33 98.33 36 1.67 33.33 58.33 70.00 73.33 80.00 83.33 90.00 90.00 90.00 37 1.67 48.33 73.33 81.67 85.00 91.67 95.00 96.67 96.67 96.67 38 5.00 58.33 80.00 86.67 88.33 91.67 95.00 98.33 98.33 98.33 39 5.00 35.00 61.67 73.33 78.33 85.00 88.33 93.33 93.33 93.33 40 5.00 55.00 78.33 86.67 88.33 91.67 91.67 96.67 96.67 96.67 41 3.33 56.67 76.67 83.33 88.33 91.67 93.33 96.67 96.67 96.67 42 3.33 50.00 75.00 83.33 85.00 88.33 90.00 95.00 95.00 95.00 43 0.00 51.67 73.33 80.00 85.00 88.33 91.67 95.00 95.00 95.00 44 1.67 48.33 71.67 78.33 86.67 93.33 95.00 96.67 95.00 95.00 45 5.00 66.67 83.33 88.33 88.33 93.33 93.33 95.00 91.67 90.00 46 5.00 63.33 83.33 90.00 91.67 93.33 96.67 98.33 98.33 98.33 47 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 LSD (P = 0.05) 3.3 8.5 9.1 8.9 8.4 8.7 8.4 6.9 6.8 6.9 CV % 64 11 8 7 6 6 6 5 5 5

TABLE 11 Cover rate estimates after overseeding Patriot bermudagrass on 15 October. Turfgrass Turfgrass Cover Estimates at Day 126 140 154 168 182 196 210 224 238 1 98.33 98.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 91.67 58.33 48.33 2 95.00 95.00 98.33 98.33 98.33 98.33 83.33 55.00 41.67 3 96.67 96.67 96.67 98.33 98.33 98.33 85.00 53.33 40.00 4 95.67 98.33 98.33 98.33 98.33 98.33 75.00 40.00 8.33 5 98.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 81.67 41.67 36.67 6 95.67 96.67 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 83.33 36.67 15.00 7 96.33 98.33 98.33 98.33 98.33 100.00 83.33 41.67 26.67 8 98.33 98.33 98.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 83.33 48.33 40.00 9 97.33 99.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 90.00 51.67 38.33 10 94.00 95.67 96.67 98.33 98.33 100.00 83.33 40.00 21.67 11 95.00 95.00 96.67 100.00 100.00 100.00 80.00 43.33 20.00 12 96.67 96.67 96.67 98.33 98.33 100.00 78.33 28.33 21.67 13 93.33 95.67 96.67 98.33 98.33 100.00 78.33 28.33 6.67 14 90.00 90.00 93.33 95.00 95.00 95.00 78.33 33.33 26.67 15 88.33 88.33 93.33 95.00 95.00 96.67 83.33 33.33 15.00 16 81.67 83.33 90.00 93.33 93.33 93.33 75.00 26.67 8.33 17 96.67 96.67 98.33 98.33 98.33 98.33 81.67 40.00 35.00 18 95.00 96.67 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 85.00 46.67 33.33 19 98.33 98.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 90.00 51.67 48.33 20 96.67 96.67 96.67 98.33 98.33 98.33 81.67 38.33 30.00 21 95.00 95.00 95.00 96.67 96.67 96.67 86.67 48.33 35.00 22 93.33 93.33 93.33 93.33 95.00 96.67 81.67 51.67 30.00 23 95.00 95.00 98.33 98.33 98.33 98.33 88.33 38.33 21.67 24 93.33 93.33 95.00 95.00 95.00 95.00 80.00 31.67 21.67 25 95.00 96.67 98.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 88.33 50.00 33.33 26 96.67 96.67 98.33 98.33 98.33 98.33 81.67 43.33 33.33 27 88.33 90.00 93.33 96.67 96.67 96.67 78.33 41.67 16.67 28 98.33 99.00 99.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 80.00 43.33 21.67 29 93.33 93.33 95.00 95.00 95.00 98.33 83.33 53.33 33.33 30 97.33 98.33 98.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 91.67 65.00 48.33 31 90.00 90.00 95.00 98.33 98.33 100.00 86.67 46.67 31.67 32 88.33 88.33 91.67 93.33 93.33 98.33 83.33 36.67 21.67 33 93.33 93.33 96.67 96.67 96.67 98.33 76.67 40.00 11.67 34 93.33 93.33 98.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 66.67 25.00 8.33 35 96.67 99.00 99.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 81.67 40.00 16.67 36 88.33 88.33 93.33 95.00 95.00 95.00 80.00 36.67 21.67 37 96.67 98.33 98.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 88.33 48.33 30.00 38 98.33 98.33 98.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 83.33 43.33 21.67 39 93.33 93.33 96.67 98.33 98.33 98.33 88.33 46.67 36.67 40 96.67 96.67 98.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 78.33 38.33 21.67 41 96.67 96.67 96.67 96.67 98.33 100.00 86.67 51.67 38.33 42 95.00 95.00 98.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 81.67 40.00 26.67 43 95.00 95.67 96.67 98.33 98.33 100.00 88.33 60.00 43.33 44 95.00 95.00 96.67 98.33 98.33 100.00 83.33 36.67 8.33 45 86.67 91.67 95.00 96.67 96.67 98.33 70.00 36.67 8.33 46 98.33 100.00 98.33 98.33 98.33 100.00 88.33 50.00 33.33 47 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 LSD 7.1 6.8 5.5 3.9 3.9 3.2 8.6 18.1 17.5 (P = 0.05) CV % 5 5 4 3 3 2 7 27 42

TABLE 12 Color estimates after overseeding Patriot bermudagrass on 15 October. Turf color based on a 1-9 scale, where 1 = dead grass, 2 = dull yellow-green, 3 = pale yellow green, 4 = yellow green, 5 = pale green, 6 = green, 7 = dark green, 8 = deep dark green, and 9 = black green. Turfgrass Turfgrass Color Estimates at Day 42 56 70 84 98 112 126 140 1 7.00 7.67 7.67 8.00 7.00 7.33 7.33 7.33 2 7.00 7.33 7.33 7.67 7.00 7.00 6.67 7.00 3 6.00 6.67 7.00 7.00 6.67 6.67 6.33 6.67 4 4.33 5.00 5.00 5.00 4.00 5.00 4.67 4.67 5 7.33 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 6 4.33 5.00 5.00 5.00 4.67 5.00 4.33 5.33 7 5.00 6.00 6.33 6.33 5.67 5.67 5.67 5.67 8 5.67 6.67 6.67 7.00 6.67 6.67 6.00 6.67 9 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 6.33 6.33 6.00 6.33 10 5.00 6.33 6.33 7.00 5.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 11 4.33 5.00 5.00 5.67 5.67 5.67 5.33 6.00 12 7.00 7.67 7.00 7.00 6.67 7.00 7.00 7.00 13 5.00 5.67 6.00 6.33 5.00 5.33 5.00 5.33 14 5.67 6.33 6.33 6.33 5.33 6.00 5.33 5.67 15 5.67 6.00 6.33 6.33 6.33 6.33 5.67 5.67 16 5.00 5.33 5.33 5.67 4.00 4.67 4.33 5.33 17 6.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 6.67 7.00 6.33 6.67 18 6.67 7.00 8.00 8.00 7.33 7.67 7.33 7.67 19 7.33 8.00 8.00 8.00 7.33 8.00 7.67 8.00 20 7.00 7.33 7.33 7.33 7.00 7.33 6.67 7.33 21 7.00 7.33 7.67 7.67 7.33 7.67 7.00 7.00 22 7.33 7.33 7.33 7.33 7.00 7.33 6.67 7.33 23 6.67 7.00 7.33 7.33 7.00 7.00 6.67 7.33 24 6.67 6.67 6.67 6.67 6.33 6.67 6.33 6.33 25 6.67 7.00 7.33 7.33 7.00 7.33 7.00 7.00 26 7.00 7.00 7.33 7.33 6.00 6.67 6.33 7.00 27 4.33 5.33 5.33 5.33 4.33 4.67 4.33 4.67 28 5.00 5.67 6.00 6.33 4.67 5.33 5.00 5.67 29 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.33 5.67 6.33 5.33 6.00 30 7.00 7.67 7.67 7.67 7.67 7.67 7.67 7.67 31 6.33 7.00 7.00 7.00 6.67 7.00 6.67 7.00 32 5.33 5.67 5.67 6.00 5.00 5.00 4.67 5.33 33 4.67 5.33 5.67 5.67 4.00 5.00 4.67 5.00 34 4.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 3.33 4.33 4.00 4.67 35 5.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 4.67 5.00 5.00 5.33 36 6.67 7.33 7.33 7.33 6.00 6.00 5.00 6.00 37 5.33 6.33 6.33 6.33 5.67 5.67 5.67 6.67 38 5.33 6.67 6.33 6.67 6.33 6.67 6.33 6.67 39 6.33 7.33 7.67 7.67 7.33 7.33 6.67 7.67 40 5.33 6.00 6.00 7.00 6.67 6.67 6.00 6.00 41 6.00 6.67 6.67 6.67 6.67 6.67 6.33 6.33 42 5.33 6.33 6.33 6.33 6.33 6.33 5.67 5.67 43 6.00 7.00 7.33 7.33 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 44 5.33 6.33 6.00 6.00 4.67 5.67 5.67 5.33 45 3.33 4.00 4.00 4.00 2.00 3.00 3.00 3.67 46 6.00 7.00 6.67 7.00 6.00 6.33 6.00 6.33 47 4.00 2.33 1.33 1.33 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 LSD 0.94 1.04 1.13 1.10 1.07 1.11 1.14 1.26 (P = 0.05) CV % 10 10 11 11 12 11 12 13

TABLE 13 Color estimates after overseeding Patriot bermudagrass on 15 October. Turf color based on a 1-9 scale, where 1 = dead grass, 2 = dull yellow-green, 3 = pale yellow green, 4 = yellow green, 5 = pale green, 6 = green, 7 = dark green, 8 = deep dark green, and 9 = black green. Note season mean estimate is influenced by early- and late-season bermudagrass color. Turf- Turfgrass Color Estimates at Day Season grass 154 168 182 196 210 224 238 Mean 1 8.00 8.33 8.33 8.33 8.00 7.67 7.00 7.67 2 7.67 8.00 8.33 8.67 8.67 8.00 7.67 7.60 3 7.33 7.33 7.33 7.67 7.67 7.33 7.00 6.98 4 4.00 4.00 4.67 5.00 6.00 5.33 6.00 4.84 5 8.67 9.00 9.00 9.00 8.67 8.00 7.67 8.22 6 5.33 5.00 5.67 5.67 6.00 6.00 5.67 5.20 7 5.67 5.67 6.33 6.67 7.00 6.67 6.67 6.07 8 7.00 7.33 7.67 7.67 8.00 7.67 7.33 6.98 9 6.67 7.33 7.33 8.00 8.00 7.00 7.00 6.82 10 5.67 5.67 6.00 6.00 6.67 5.00 5.67 5.89 11 6.33 6.00 6.67 7.00 7.00 7.00 6.33 5.93 12 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 6.67 7.00 7.00 13 5.00 5.33 6.33 6.33 6.00 5.33 5.67 5.58 14 6.33 6.67 7.67 8.00 7.67 7.33 7.00 6.51 15 6.67 7.33 8.00 8.33 8.00 8.00 7.00 6.78 16 6.00 7.00 7.67 7.67 7.33 7.00 7.00 5.96 17 7.00 7.67 8.00 8.33 8.00 7.67 7.33 7.18 18 7.67 8.33 8.33 8.67 8.33 8.00 7.67 7.78 19 8.33 8.67 9.00 9.00 9.00 8.00 7.67 8.13 20 7.67 8.00 8.33 8.33 8.00 8.00 7.33 7.53 21 7.67 8.00 8.33 8.67 8.67 8.00 7.33 7.69 22 7.67 8.00 8.67 9.00 8.33 8.00 7.33 7.64 23 8.00 8.33 8.67 8.67 8.33 8.00 7.00 7.56 24 7.00 7.33 8.00 8.67 8.00 7.67 7.00 7.07 25 7.33 7.67 8.33 8.33 8.33 8.00 7.00 7.44 26 7.67 7.67 8.67 9.00 8.67 8.00 7.00 7.42 27 4.33 4.67 5.33 5.67 5.67 5.00 5.33 4.96 28 5.67 5.67 5.67 6.00 5.67 4.33 5.00 5.44 29 6.67 7.00 7.67 8.33 8.33 8.00 7.00 6.71 30 8.67 8.67 8.67 8.67 8.33 8.00 7.33 7.93 31 7.33 7.67 8.67 9.00 8.67 8.00 7.00 7.40 32 6.33 7.00 7.33 7.33 7.67 7.00 7.00 6.16 33 5.00 5.00 5.67 6.00 6.33 5.00 5.33 5.22 34 4.33 4.33 5.00 5.00 6.00 5.00 6.00 4.73 35 5.33 5.33 6.00 6.33 6.00 4.67 5.33 5.47 36 7.00 7.67 8.67 8.67 8.67 7.67 7.33 7.16 37 6.67 6.33 6.67 7.00 7.00 6.67 6.00 6.29 38 6.67 7.33 7.67 8.00 8.00 7.67 7.00 6.89 39 8.00 8.67 8.67 9.00 8.33 8.00 7.33 7.73 40 7.00 7.33 7.67 7.67 8.00 7.67 7.00 6.80 41 6.67 7.33 7.67 8.33 7.67 7.67 7.00 6.96 42 6.67 7.00 7.33 8.00 8.00 7.00 6.67 6.60 43 8.00 8.33 8.33 8.67 8.33 8.00 7.00 7.49 44 5.33 5.67 6.00 6.33 6.67 5.33 5.67 5.73 45 3.67 3.67 4.33 4.33 4.67 4.00 5.33 3.80 46 7.00 7.00 7.33 8.00 7.67 7.33 7.00 6.84 47 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 5.00 6.33 7.67 2.46 LSD 1.17 1.00 0.90 0.77 0.86 0.87 0.70 0.25 (P = 0.05) CV % 11 9 8 7 7 8 6 10

TABLE 14 Quality estimates after overseeding Patriot bermudagrass on 15 October. Turf quality based on a 1-9 scale, where 1 = dead grass, 5 = minimally acceptable quality, and 9 = highest quality. Turf- Turfgrass Quality Estimates at Day grass 28 42 56 70 84 98 112 126 140 1 5.00 5.67 6.33 7.00 7.33 6.67 7.33 7.00 7.33 2 4.67 4.67 5.33 6.33 7.00 6.00 6.67 5.67 6.00 3 4.67 5.33 6.00 6.33 6.67 6.33 6.33 6.33 6.33 4 3.00 4.00 4.33 5.33 5.67 4.33 5.67 5.33 5.00 5 5.33 6.00 6.67 7.00 7.33 7.00 7.33 7.33 7.33 6 3.33 4.00 5.00 5.33 5.67 5.00 5.33 5.00 5.00 7 3.67 4.67 5.67 6.33 6.67 5.67 5.67 5.67 5.67 8 4.67 5.67 6.00 6.67 7.00 6.33 6.67 6.67 6.67 9 3.67 4.67 5.33 6.33 6.67 6.33 6.67 6.00 5.67 10 3.33 4.67 5.67 6.33 6.67 5.33 6.00 5.67 5.67 11 3.67 4.67 5.33 5.67 5.67 5.00 5.67 5.33 5.67 12 4.33 4.67 5.67 6.00 6.33 5.67 6.33 6.33 6.33 13 3.00 3.67 4.67 5.67 5.67 4.67 5.67 5.33 5.33 14 4.33 4.67 5.00 5.00 5.00 4.33 4.67 4.67 4.67 15 3.67 4.00 4.67 5.00 5.33 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 16 3.00 3.33 4.33 4.33 4.33 3.33 3.33 3.33 4.00 17 5.00 5.33 6.33 6.33 6.67 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.33 18 4.00 5.00 5.67 6.33 7.00 6.33 7.00 6.67 6.67 19 5.33 6.33 7.33 7.33 7.33 7.00 7.33 7.33 7.67 20 5.00 6.33 6.67 7.00 7.00 6.00 6.67 6.00 6.00 21 5.00 5.67 6.67 6.67 7.00 6.00 7.00 6.33 6.33 22 5.00 5.67 6.00 6.33 6.67 5.67 5.67 5.67 5.67 23 3.33 4.33 5.33 6.00 6.67 5.67 6.33 5.67 6.00 24 4.33 5.00 5.33 5.67 5.67 4.67 5.00 5.00 5.00 25 4.33 4.67 5.67 6.00 6.33 5.67 6.33 5.67 6.00 26 4.33 5.67 6.00 6.33 6.33 5.33 6.33 6.33 6.33 27 3.33 3.67 4.67 5.33 5.33 4.00 5.00 4.33 4.33 28 3.67 4.67 5.67 6.33 6.67 4.67 5.33 5.00 5.67 29 3.33 3.67 4.67 5.33 6.00 5.00 5.33 5.00 5.33 30 4.00 5.67 6.33 7.33 7.33 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.33 31 3.67 4.67 5.33 5.67 6.00 5.33 5.67 5.00 5.00 32 3.00 3.67 4.00 4.67 5.00 4.67 4.67 4.00 4.33 33 4.00 4.00 5.33 5.67 5.67 4.33 5.33 4.67 5.00 34 3.33 4.00 4.33 5.00 5.67 4.00 4.33 4.33 4.33 35 3.33 4.00 5.00 6.00 6.67 5.33 5.67 5.33 5.67 36 3.67 3.67 4.33 5.00 5.67 4.67 4.67 4.33 4.67 37 4.00 4.67 4.67 5.67 6.33 5.67 6.33 6.00 6.33 38 4.33 5.00 5.33 5.67 6.33 6.00 6.33 6.33 6.00 39 3.67 4.33 5.33 6.00 6.33 6.00 6.33 6.00 6.33 40 4.33 5.00 5.33 5.33 6.33 6.33 6.33 5.67 6.00 41 4.67 5.33 5.67 6.33 6.67 5.67 6.00 6.00 5.67 42 4.33 5.00 5.33 5.67 6.33 5.67 6.00 5.33 5.67 43 4.00 5.00 5.67 6.33 7.00 6.33 6.33 6.00 6.00 44 3.67 4.33 5.33 5.67 6.67 4.67 5.67 5.33 5.33 45 3.33 3.33 3.67 4.00 4.00 2.67 3.00 3.00 3.67 46 5.33 5.33 6.00 6.67 7.00 6.00 6.33 6.00 6.33 47 6.33 3.33 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 LSD 1.17 1.41 1.43 1.59 1.40 1.24 1.41 1.39 1.50 (P = 0.05) CV % 18 19 17 17 14 14 15 16 17

TABLE 15 Quality estimates after overseeding Patriot bermudagrass on 15 October. Turf quality based on a 1-9 scale, where 1 = dead grass, 6 = minimally acceptable quality, and 9 = highest quality. Turf- Turfgrass Quality Estimates at Day Season grass 154 168 182 196 210 224 238 Mean 1 7.67 7.67 8.00 8.33 8.67 8.00 8.00 7.25 2 6.00 7.00 7.33 8.00 8.33 8.00 8.00 6.56 3 6.33 7.00 7.67 8.33 8.67 8.00 8.00 6.77 4 4.33 4.33 5.00 6.00 6.00 6.33 7.00 5.10 5 7.67 7.67 7.67 8.00 8.00 7.33 7.67 7.21 6 5.33 5.33 6.33 6.67 7.00 6.67 7.00 5.50 7 5.67 5.67 6.33 7.00 6.67 7.00 6.00 5.88 8 6.67 7.00 7.00 7.67 8.00 7.67 8.00 6.77 9 6.33 6.67 7.33 8.00 8.00 7.67 7.67 6.44 10 6.00 6.00 6.33 6.67 6.67 6.67 6.67 5.90 11 6.00 6.33 6.67 7.33 7.00 7.00 7.00 5.88 12 6.00 6.00 6.33 6.33 6.67 7.00 7.00 6.06 13 5.33 5.67 6.00 6.33 6.67 6.00 6.67 5.40 14 5.00 5.33 6.00 6.67 7.33 7.00 7.67 5.46 15 5.67 6.67 7.00 8.00 8.67 8.00 8.00 5.92 16 4.67 5.67 6.00 6.33 7.00 7.33 8.00 4.90 17 6.67 6.67 7.33 7.67 8.33 8.00 8.00 6.67 18 7.67 8.00 8.33 8.33 8.67 8.00 8.00 6.98 19 8.00 8.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 8.33 8.00 7.65 20 6.67 7.00 7.33 7.33 8.00 7.67 7.67 6.77 21 6.67 7.00 7.00 7.67 8.33 8.00 8.00 6.83 22 5.67 6.67 7.33 8.00 8.67 7.67 7.67 6.50 23 6.67 7.67 8.00 8.33 9.00 8.00 7.67 6.54 24 5.33 5.67 6.67 7.33 8.00 7.67 7.67 5.88 25 6.00 6.33 7.33 7.33 8.33 8.00 8.00 6.38 26 6.67 7.00 7.67 8.00 8.33 7.67 8.00 6.65 27 4.67 5.00 5.33 5.67 6.00 6.00 7.00 4.98 28 5.67 6.00 6.33 6.67 6.33 5.67 6.33 5.67 29 5.67 6.00 7.00 7.33 8.00 8.00 8.00 5.85 30 7.67 8.00 8.33 8.67 9.00 8.00 8.00 7.29 31 6.00 7.00 7.33 8.00 8.33 7.67 7.67 6.15 32 5.33 6.00 6.33 7.00 7.33 7.67 8.00 5.35 33 5.00 5.33 6.00 6.33 6.67 6.33 6.33 5.38 34 4.00 4.33 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.67 4.90 35 5.67 6.33 6.33 7.00 6.67 6.33 6.67 5.75 36 5.33 6.33 6.67 7.33 8.33 7.67 8.00 5.65 37 6.33 6.33 6.67 7.33 7.33 7.00 7.00 6.10 38 6.00 6.33 6.67 7.33 8.00 7.67 8.00 6.33 39 6.67 7.33 7.67 8.33 9.00 8.00 8.00 6.58 40 6.33 7.00 7.33 8.33 8.33 8.00 8.00 6.50 41 6.00 6.67 7.67 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 6.52 42 6.33 6.67 7.33 7.67 8.33 8.00 8.00 6.35 43 7.00 7.00 8.00 8.67 8.67 8.33 8.00 6.77 44 5.67 6.00 6.67 6.67 7.00 6.67 7.00 5.77 45 3.67 4.00 4.67 4.67 4.67 4.67 5.67 3.92 46 6.33 6.67 7.33 7.33 8.00 7.67 7.67 6.63 47 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 4.67 5.67 7.33 2.46 LSD 1.44 1.27 1.07 0.97 0.82 0.69 0.72 0.30 (P = 0.05) CV % 15 12 10 8 7 6 6 12

TABLE 16 Bermudagrass coverage estimates after overseeding Patriot bermudagrass on 15 October. Bermudagrass Coverage at Day Turf- grass 210 224 238 1 8.33 41.67 51.67 2 16.67 45.00 58.33 3 15.00 46.67 60.00 4 25.00 60.00 91.67 5 18.33 58.33 63.33 6 16.67 63.33 85.00 7 16.67 58.33 73.33 8 16.67 51.67 60.00 9 10.00 48.33 61.67 10 16.67 60.00 78.33 11 20.00 56.67 80.00 12 21.67 71.67 78.33 13 21.67 71.67 93.33 14 21.67 66.67 73.33 15 16.67 66.67 85.00 16 25.00 73.33 91.67 17 18.33 60.00 65.00 18 15.00 53.33 66.67 19 10.00 48.33 51.67 20 18.33 61.67 70.00 21 13.33 51.67 65.00 22 18.33 48.33 70.00 23 11.67 61.67 78.33 24 20.00 68.33 78.33 25 11.67 50.00 66.67 26 18.33 56.67 66.67 27 21.67 58.33 83.33 28 20.00 56.67 78.33 29 16.67 46.67 66.67 30 8.33 35.00 51.67 31 13.33 53.33 68.33 32 16.67 63.33 78.33 33 23.33 60.00 88.33 34 33.33 75.00 91.67 35 18.33 60.00 83.33 36 20.00 63.33 78.33 37 11.67 51.67 70.00 38 16.67 56.67 78.33 39 11.67 53.33 63.33 40 21.67 61.67 78.33 41 13.33 48.33 61.67 42 18.33 60.00 73.33 43 11.67 40.00 56.67 44 16.67 63.33 91.67 45 30.00 63.33 91.67 46 11.67 50.00 66.67 47 66.67 85.00 98.33 LSD 8.91 18.58 18.92 (P = 0.05) CV % 30 20 15

TABLE 17 Texture (1 to 9 scale), shear strength (N m force), and density (1 to 9 scale) ratings after overseeding Patriot bermudagrass on 15 October. Shear Turf- Texture Strength Density grass Day 168 Day 168 Day 168 1 9.00 120.00 9.00 2 9.00 111.00 8.33 3 9.00 112.33 8.00 4 5.67 115.00 5.67 5 9.00 118.33 8.00 6 7.33 108.67 7.33 7 7.67 120.67 7.67 8 9.00 115.00 8.33 9 9.00 128.33 8.00 10 8.00 110.00 7.33 11 8.00 119.33 7.67 12 7.67 127.00 7.67 13 7.33 113.00 6.67 14 8.67 102.00 7.33 15 9.00 109.67 7.67 16 8.67 109.00 7.67 17 9.00 114.00 8.33 18 9.00 109.33 8.67 19 9.00 117.67 8.67 20 9.00 126.33 8.33 21 9.00 117.67 8.00 22 9.00 116.00 8.33 23 9.00 125.00 8.67 24 9.00 118.67 8.00 25 9.00 110.33 8.33 26 9.00 119.00 8.00 27 6.67 112.00 6.33 28 7.00 115.67 6.67 29 9.00 116.67 7.67 30 9.00 118.00 8.67 31 9.00 120.33 9.00 32 8.33 112.67 7.67 33 7.67 98.67 7.00 34 6.00 108.33 5.67 35 7.00 116.33 7.00 36 8.33 116.33 7.67 37 8.00 110.67 8.00 38 8.67 116.67 8.00 39 9.00 120.67 9.00 40 9.00 113.67 8.33 41 9.00 117.33 8.33 42 8.67 115.33 8.67 43 9.00 112.33 8.67 44 7.33 116.33 6.67 45 5.33 97.33 4.33 46 9.00 109.67 8.00 47 57.33 LSD 0.60 18.00 0.95 (P = 0.05) CV % 4 10 8

TABLE 18 Average color ratings based on digital image analysis (DGCI = Digital Green Color Index) estimates after overseeding Patriot bermudagrass on 15 October. Turf- Digital Green Color Index at Day Season grass 28 56 91 119 146 182 210 Mean 1 0.510 0.500 0.490 0.440 0.480 0.490 0.500 0.486 2 0.490 0.480 0.500 0.430 0.440 0.480 0.510 0.475 3 0.480 0.490 0.490 0.440 0.470 0.480 0.480 0.475 4 0.430 0.460 0.400 0.380 0.410 0.390 0.390 0.410 5 0.500 0.520 0.500 0.470 0.490 0.500 0.510 0.499 6 0.450 0.430 0.420 0.390 0.410 0.430 0.430 0.421 7 0.460 0.450 0.420 0.390 0.420 0.430 0.440 0.431 8 0.480 0.480 0.460 0.430 0.460 0.460 0.480 0.466 9 0.490 0.490 0.460 0.420 0.450 0.460 0.470 0.463 10 0.490 0.470 0.450 0.410 0.430 0.420 0.410 0.439 11 0.460 0.460 0.420 0.400 0.420 0.440 0.450 0.437 12 0.490 0.500 0.470 0.440 0.450 0.450 0.440 0.463 13 0.470 0.450 0.440 0.410 0.420 0.410 0.390 0.425 14 0.480 0.460 0.430 0.390 0.410 0.470 0.500 0.448 15 0.460 0.470 0.460 0.410 0.410 0.490 0.510 0.458 16 0.480 0.450 0.400 0.360 0.430 0.470 0.470 0.435 17 0.500 0.500 0.480 0.440 0.450 0.500 0.510 0.482 18 0.500 0.500 0.490 0.440 0.470 0.500 0.510 0.485 19 0.520 0.520 0.500 0.470 0.480 0.520 0.530 0.505 20 0.490 0.510 0.490 0.430 0.450 0.480 0.520 0.483 21 0.500 0.510 0.490 0.440 0.440 0.490 0.530 0.485 22 0.510 0.500 0.490 0.440 0.440 0.500 0.530 0.487 23 0.480 0.490 0.480 0.440 0.450 0.500 0.510 0.480 24 0.470 0.470 0.460 0.410 0.430 0.490 0.510 0.462 25 0.480 0.480 0.460 0.410 0.430 0.480 0.520 0.466 26 0.490 0.490 0.440 0.390 0.420 0.490 0.520 0.464 27 0.430 0.440 0.410 0.350 0.360 0.410 0.400 0.401 28 0.470 0.480 0.420 0.400 0.430 0.410 0.390 0.430 29 0.480 0.460 0.440 0.420 0.420 0.480 0.510 0.458 30 0.510 0.510 0.500 0.460 0.480 0.500 0.520 0.498 31 0.480 0.480 0.470 0.430 0.450 0.510 0.520 0.477 32 0.460 0.440 0.420 0.370 0.430 0.480 0.480 0.440 33 0.460 0.460 0.420 0.380 0.420 0.410 0.390 0.421 34 0.450 0.410 0.390 0.340 0.400 0.400 0.390 0.397 35 0.470 0.470 0.440 0.400 0.450 0.410 0.390 0.434 36 0.500 0.470 0.450 0.400 0.440 0.500 0.510 0.468 37 0.460 0.450 0.430 0.400 0.440 0.460 0.440 0.441 38 0.480 0.470 0.450 0.420 0.430 0.470 0.490 0.458 39 0.490 0.500 0.500 0.460 0.460 0.510 0.520 0.491 40 0.470 0.440 0.450 0.410 0.420 0.480 0.500 0.453 41 0.490 0.480 0.460 0.420 0.440 0.480 0.490 0.464 42 0.470 0.460 0.440 0.390 0.420 0.470 0.490 0.451 43 0.510 0.510 0.500 0.440 0.480 0.490 0.520 0.493 44 0.460 0.460 0.440 0.400 0.400 0.410 0.410 0.426 45 0.460 0.400 0.320 0.310 0.400 0.380 0.350 0.373 46 0.500 0.470 0.430 0.420 0.430 0.470 0.500 0.459 47 0.460 0.300 0.260 0.250 0.190 0.210 0.400 0.296 LSD 0.040 0.046 0.034 0.035 0.049 0.020 0.025 0.014 (P = 0.05) CV % 5 6 5 5 7 3 3 5 Results and Discussion

Rate of establishment in the fairway/athletic field study varied between overseed grasses with the slowest average being Tetradark compared to PSAR-09-2 with a 50% faster establishment rate over the study period. The others in the fast establishing group at the top included Gulf, Carly, Allaire 3, HS-35, NAI-ALS5, and HS-36. Just considering the first month of growth, AMPT005 and Tetradark were the slowest to get started compared to Carly, Allaire 3, PSAR-09-2, HS-35 with a 29% greater rate.

In terms of average quality (density, color & texture) for the duration of the test, HS-35 came out on top, followed by followed by PPG-PR-303, SPR Overseeding Blend, and Cascadia. In terms of just color, Cascadia was the highest but similar to HS-35. The next group included PPG-PR-303, Man O'War, and NAI-PL2. Gulf had the lowest color rating.

Fine leaf texture is important to some for blending in with other grasses. Most of these grasses have a similar texture. Three grasses, Gulf, Approach, and PSAR-09-2 were rated as having coarser textures than the other grasses.

In situ shear strength data put Nomad 4 at the top (128 N m) and Gulf at the bottom (97 N m). This 24% drop is significant in terms of holding up under heavy cleat traffic or club divoting. It should be noted that adding an overseed increased shear strength on average by 95%.

The fastest bermudagrass regrowth were seen in plots growing PSAR-09-2, APMT005, CS-AR-106, and Gulf. With the exception of the American Ryegrass APMT005, these are all annual or intermediate ryegrasses.

Example 4—Drought Tolerance

Drought Stress Methods:

-   -   1. Establish turf trial     -   2. Keep soil saturation optimum for turf health     -   3. Starting in June: Withhold water (no irrigation during the         duration of the stress)     -   4. Mow 3 times per week at 1.5″     -   5. Digital photos 24 hours after mowing     -   6. Use Digital Image Analysis to calculate the percent green         cover     -   7. Study continues until top entry is reduced to 25% green cover     -   8. Analyzed using non-linear regression analysis with data fit         to a sigmoid curve.

REFERENCES

-   Banfi, E., G. Galasso, B. Foggi, D. Kopecký & N. M. G. Ardenghi.     2017. Schedonorus and Micropyropsis to Lolium (Poaceae: Loliinae):     New combinations and typifications. Taxon 66(3): 715 (23 Jun. 2017). -   Ghesquiere, M., M. W. Humphreys, and S. Zwierzykowski. 2010.     Festulolium. In. Fodder Crops and Amenity Grasses, Handbook of Plant     Breeding. Eds. B. Boller, U. K. Posselt and F. Veronesi. Springer     Science. 524 pp. -   Hopkins, A. A., M. C. Saha and Z. Y. Wang. 2009. Chapter 19:     Breeding, Genetics, and Cultivars. In Tall Fescue for the     Twenty-first Century. Eds. H. A. Fribourg, D. B. Hannaway & C. P.     West. Agronomy Monograph No. 53. ASA, CSSA, SSSA. Madison, Wis. USA.     539 pp. 

We claim:
 1. A method of over-seeding dormant warm season grasses, comprising the steps of over-seeding the warm season grass with Turf Type Festulolium braunii (American Ryegrass) such that the American Ryegrass will provide a green cover during the winter months but will die out when the temperatures increase to the point which allow the warm-season grass to regrow.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lack of heat tolerance of American Ryegrass allows for a smooth transition for the warm-season grass.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the warm season grass is overseeded prior to the onset of cold weather.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the warm season grass is scalped prior to the overseeding step.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the warm season grass is Patriot bermudagrass.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the American Ryegrass is selected from the list consisting of: AMPT001; AMPT002; AMPT003; AMPT005; AMPT006; AMPT007; AMPT008; AMPT009; AMPT010; and AMPT011.
 7. A method maintain green coverage of turf year-round comprising planting a warm season grass, and over-seeding the warm season grass with Festulolium braunii (American Ryegrass), and wherein the American Ryegrass is selected from the group consisting of breeder's codes: APMT001, APMT002, APMT003, APMT004, APMT005, APMT006, APMT007, APMT008, APMT009, APMT010, and APMT011.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the American Ryegrass is selected from the group consisting of breeder's codes: APMT002, APMT003, APMT004, APMT005, APMT006, APMT007, APMT008.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the American Ryegrass is breeder's code APMT005.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the grasses are planted on a golf course.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the warm season grass is Bermuda grass.
 12. The method of claim 7, further comprising scalping the warm season grass to 0.5 inches before over-seeding.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the American Ryegrass is over-seeded at a rate of 12 pounds per 1000 square feet.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising irrigating twice a day for two weeks after over-seeding.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising applying nitrogen. 